Ball-simulating, souvenir score-keeper



April 1958 e. o. TOOTLE 2,828,?12

BALL-SIMULATING, SOUVENIR SCORE-KEEPER Filed Feb. 28, 1956 l2 WORLDSERIES |4\DODERS SCORE BALL. SOUVENIR illlllljlllllfi zumm DIV I ll llilllll "lull/[YAskill/111111111114 J I .W/ IlIIIIIIlIlIIIII4- INVENTOR,mm?! Q. M0715 BY Q1 1 sArnsrMULArINo, SQUVENILR SCORE-KEEPER Gwendolyn0. Tootle, Moss Point, Miss, assignor of onetenth to Gadget-Of-The MonthClub, inn, Los Angeles, Calif, a corporation of California ApplicationFebruary 28, 1956, Serial No. 568,359

3' Claims. (Cl. 116-133) This invention relates to novelties used assouvenirs and more particularly to a ball having adjustable means forindicating the progressive and final scores of two competing teams andbeing conformed in the shape of the ball used in the particular game.

Most of the souvenir items sold to spectators before and during a majorsports event have no particularly significant connection with the gameplayed or with the contestants involved except, in some cases, forhaving the name of one team or the other imprinted thereon. Furthermore,none of the presently available items of this character can be made toinclude a record of the score of the event since they must, ofnecessity, be completely prepared in advance of the contest.

It is with these considerations in mind that I have made the presentinvention which will be seen to have a number of important objectives.

One important object of this invention is the provision of a souvenirnovelty which is outwardly conformed to suggest the type of sports eventit is intended to commemorate, i. e.: a baseball for a world series, afootball for a regional or Rose Bowl championship game, etc.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of a souvenirnovelty of the character described which is adapted for the inclusionthereon of the names of the contestants together with such additionalinformation as the place and date of the contest and the title orchampionship being contested.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of asouvenir item having adjustable means associated therewith whereby thescore of each participant may be changed during the game as points arescored, and on which the final score may be permanently retained as areminder of the outcome of the event.

In brief, the souvenir item of my invention includes a hollow generallyglobular main body conformed exteriorly to simulate the appearance of aball used in a particular sport. Suitable surface areas are provided onthe periphery of the spherical body for the imprinting (or otherwiseafiixing) of data concerning the sports event which the souvenir isintended to commemorate, including two central panels for the names ofthe contestants. Adjacent these panels are two apertures in the bodyshell through which selected numbers of a plurality of numbers disposedon the outer edges of two wheels may be seen. The number bearing wheelsare mounted on interfitting shaft and sleeve axial members extendedoutwardly of the shell to permit the selection and changing of thenumbers visible through the apertures.

Other important objects of my invention will be apparent in thefollowing detailed specification when read with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure .1 is an elevational view of one exemplary souvenir item made inaccordance with my invention showing the exterior from the aperturedside and with illustrative imprinting thereon;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken axiodiametrically ofFigure 1;

2323,3 12 Patented Apr. 1, 1958 Figure 3 is a partial cross sectionalview taken along the line A--B of Figure 2 as it would appear whenviewed in the direction of the arrows (with portions behind the plane ofthe section removed for clarity);

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view similar to that of Figure 3, takenalong the line KP of Figure 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows,and

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken radially of the axis of Figure1 and along the line YZ of Figure 2 to reveal in greater detail theconstruction and operation of the -associated parts of the device.

Reference is again made to Figure l in which the numeral iii designatesthe outer surface of the generally globular shell of the souvenir ballof my invention which is embossed and printed as suggested at if tosimulate the appearance of a baseball. in this connection, it is to beunderstood that the decorations and lettering on the figure are not, perse, specific elements of this invention but are shown thereon toillustrate one typical manner of decoration and placement on the deviceof the wording shown at 12 and 13. Also the team names, as at M and 15,and the scores opposite each of the names visible through the surfaceapertures 16 and 1'7, are intended only to illustrate the manner inwhich any names could be applied and any digits could be made to appearby turning the knobs i3 and 19 to operate the internal means which willbe hereinafter described.

Although the device, as-shown in Figure l, simulates a baseball, it canas readily be conformed and decorated to represent a basketball, golfball, tennis ball, etc., or elongated to the proportions of a football.

The spherical shell of the typical souvenir ball seen in Figure 1 ispreferably conformed in two generally symmetrical half members best seenand designated as 2% and 21 in Figure 5, the front half having anextended outer rim 23, and the back half 21 having an extended inner rim24 adapted to interfit tightly with the outer rim 23 to provide a strongand smooth circular jointure.

The apertures 16 and 17 are present only in the front half 20 of theball as seen in Figure l, the back half it normally, although notnecessarily, being simulatively decorated the same as the front halfit), (although not necessarily) having neither apertures nor imprintedwording. Except for these'differences and the oppositely overlapping rimportions 23 and 24 previously described, the two half members and 211are structurally the same interiorly, having integrally formed bosssections as at 25 in Figure 2 and concave socketal portions 26 disposeddiametrically opposite from the bosses 25.

A digit wheel assembly, best seen in Figure 2, includes a shaft member27 interfitting rotatably with a sleeve member 2% provided with a collar29 which fits movably within the socket 264 of the socketal portion 25as will be better understood by reference to the cross section of Figure3 taken along the line AE of Figure 2 and seen in the direction of thearrows.

A digit wheel 33 is fixedly attached to the sleeve 28 adjacent the endthereof by means of a tight fitting hub portion 34, the sleeve member 28being terminated inwardly of the front and back half spheres 2i and 2].at substantially the axio-radial center thereof, or slightly below same(although not so limited). ber 27 extends beyond the end of the sleeve28 and is terminated in a bore 30 axially aligned in the boss portion 25as indicated in the cross section of Figure 4 taken along the line KP ofFigure 2. A second digitwheel 31 is fixedly attached tothe shaft member27 by means of a tight fitting hub 32 at a point on the shaftimmediately adjacent the inner termination of the sleeve 2% therebypreventing any substantial axial movement of the shaft 27 relative tothe sleeve 28.

and normally The shaft mem- As will also be seen in Figure 2, the shaft27 is terminated outwardly of the body portion 21 in a knurled knob 19,and the sleeve member 28 is terminated outwardly in a circular knurledknob member 18 disposed between the surface of the spherical body 21 andthe knob 19. As is obvious from the Figure 2, the wheel 31 is rotated byturning the knob 19, and the wheel 33 by turning the knob 13.

The digit wheels 31 and 33 are preferably light in weight and of similarskeletal construction as indicated in the sectional View of Figure takenalong the line YZ of Figure 2, and showing the lower complete wheel 33having hub portion 34 by means of which it is affixed to the sleeve 23.Disposed radially of the hub 34 is a circular vane-like portion 35connecting a plurality of flat spokes such as 36, 37, 3S and 39 whichlead to an outer vane 40 terminated in a flanged ring 41 the circularouter surface thereof 42 being disposed concentrically with the hub 34.

To the outer surface 42 of the ring 41 of the wheel 33, any plurality ofdigits arranged in any sequence suited to the particular sport for whichthe souvenir is intended is applied as indicated in the fragmentarysections 43 and 44 of the wheels 33 and 31 in Figure 2.

The wheels 31 and 33 are positioned on the shaft 27 and the sleeve 28relative to the apertures 16 and 17 so that when the front half member20 is attached to the back half member 21, certain of the digits on thewheel rims, such as shown at 43 and 44, for example, will be visiblethrough the apertures 16 and 17, and the digits appearing in theapertures may, in turn, be changed according to the progress of the gameand the points scored, by suitable rotation of the knobs 13, 19.

Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention willoccur to those skilled in the art after a careful study hereof. Allsuch, properly within the basic spirit and scope of the presentinvention are intended to be included and comprehended herein as fullyas if specifically described, illustrated and claimed herein.

The exact compositions, configurations, constructions, relativepositionings, and cooperative relationships of the various componentparts of the present invention are not critical, and can be modifiedsubstantially within the spirit of the present invention.

The embodiment of the present invention specifically described andillustrated herein is exemplary only, and is not intended to limit thescope of the present invention, which is to be interpreted in the lightof the prior art and the appended claims only, with due considerationfor the doctrine of equivalents.

I claim:

1. A souvenir to commemorate a particular sports event comprising: agenerally spherical hollow ball conformed and decorated exteriorly tosimulate the appearance of a ball used in a particular sports event andhaving surface areas thereon adapted to receive names and wordingrelating to said sports event; a pair of longitudinally extended panelsdebossed into the surface of said ball inwardly of the normal periphery,said panels being positioned centrally of said surface areas and inhorizontal parallel alignment, an aperture disposed in horizontalalignment with each of said panels, and to the right thereof, openingthrough the surface of said ball; rotatable means for supporting indiciabearing surfaces inwardly of said apertures consisting of; an axialshaft means disposed inwardly of said ball in axioradial relationship tosaid panels on the outer surface of the ball, said shaft means beingrotatably retained in spaced journal members and having a pair of wheelsrotatably attached substantially centrally thereof, said wheels beingterminated in fiat circumferential rims disposed inwardly 4 of saidapertures and having a plurality of numerals thereon visible throughsaid apertures; and means disposed outwardly of said ball for rotatingsaid surfaces to change said indicia visible through said apertures.

2. A souvenir to commemorate a particular sports event comprising: agenerally spherical hollow ball conformed and decorated exteriorly tosimulate the appearance of a ball used in a particular sports event andhaving surface areas thereon adapted to receive names and wordingrelating to said sports event; a pair of longitudinally extended panelsdebossed into the surface of said ball inwardly of the normal periphery,said panels being positioned centrally of said surface areas and inhorizontal parallel alignment, an aperture disposed in horizontalalignment with each of said panels, and to the right thereof, openingthrough the surface of said ball; rotatable means for supporting indiciabearing surfaces inwardly of said apertures consisting of; an axialshaft means disposed inwardly of said ball in axioradial relationship tosaid panels on the outer surface of the ball, said shaft means beingrotatably retained in spaced journal members and having a pair of wheelsrotatably attached substantially centrally thereof, said wheels beingterminated in flat circumferential rims disposed inwardly of saidapertures and having a plurality of numerals thereon visible throughsaid apertures, said numerals being disposed in sequential progressionon said rims of said wheels in predetermined numerical units and rangethereof best suited to the particular sports event; and means disposedoutwardly of said ball for rotating said surfaces to change said indiciavisible through said apertures.

3. A souvenir to commemorate a particular sports event comprising: agenerally spherical hollow ball conformed and decorated exteriorly tosimulate the appearance of a ball used in a particular sports event andhaving surface areas thereon adapted to receive names and wordingrelating to said sports event; a pair of longitudinally extended panelsdebossed into the surface of said ball inwardly of the normal periphery,said panels being positioned centrally of said surface areas and inhorizontal parallel alignment, an aperture disposed in horizontalalignment with each of said panels, and to the right thereof, openingthrough the surface of said ball; rotatable means for supporting indiciabearing surfaces inwardly of said apertures consisting of; an axialshaft means disposed inwardly of said ball in axioradial relationship tosaid panels on the outer surface of the ball, said shaft means beingrotatably retained in spaced journal members and having a pair of wheelsrotatably attached substantially centrally thereof, said wheels beingterminated in flat circumferential rims disposed inwardly of saidapertures and having a plurality of numerals thereon visible throughsaid apertures, said numerals being disposed in sequential progressionon said rims of said wheels in predetermined numerical units and rangethereof best suited to the particular sports event, said axial shaftmeans including an axial shaft fitted with a sleeve member rotatablethereabout, one of said wheels being fixedly attached to said sleeve andthe other of said wheels being fixedly attached to said shaft, saidshaft and said sleeve being extended outwardly of said spherical balland terminated in knurled thumb knobs whereby said wheels areindependently rotatable relative to said apertures to change saidnumerals visible through said apertures.

Phelps Dec. 24, 1889 Johnson May 17, 1904

